North Shore - Bell's Trailhead to River Bend Campground
San Angelo State Park
- 7/3/2026
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 6.50 Miles
Duration: 3 hours, 30 minutes
Leg 1 - North Parking > Bell's Trailhead > Shady Trail > Trailhead to Trailheaad (S) > Rocky Creek > Upper Big Hill > Badlands > River Bend Campground Road > River Bend Campground 3.5 miles
Leg 2 - River Bend Campground > North Slick Rock > Upper Big Hill (N) > Park Fire Break Road (WNW) > Dinosaur Trail (N) > Bell's Trailhead > Park road to North Parking 3.1 miles
Temp started at 76, ended at 91. Partly cloudy, SW breeze 7-15 mph, somewhat humid.
Improved trails from my last visit although one in particular (Lower Ghost Camp) is still not do-able.
All trails that I hiked on were dry and easy to traverse. Park personnel have cleaned up Shady Trail so it is very nice to hike. Animal activity was minimal although I saw two armadillos on the north side of the river where I had to park. There are two entrances to the North SHore - one is on the south side of the river and is the where equestrians enter to the campground designed for them and their horses. The other gate is on the north sideof the river and is the "main" gate. Both gates are locked and to enter you need the current gate combo which should open both gate locks. For whatever reason, this morning the combo did not open the equestrian gate I normally use so I had to use the other gate and park in a different area so I could cross over the dried river bed to access the northern trails.
Put a bit of a damper on the hike but it was do-able so no complaints. BUT because of the damper, I did not go as far as planned and didn't go the route I intended so major trails have not been checked.
NOTES -
Water, shade info kiosk and a bicycle repair station are at or near Bell's Trailhead.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets are available at the River Bend Campground.
SPECIAL NOTICE - CURRENTLY, NO HORSES ARE ALLOWED AT THE PARK DUE TO SCREW FLY INFESTATION. CHECK WITH PARK PERSONNEL IF YOU DESIRED TO RIDE THE TRAILS WITH YOUR HORSE.
Park Mid-section - Burkett Park to 5 Points Junction Loop
San Angelo State Park
- 6/25/2026
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 8.20 Miles
Duration: 4 hours
Leg 1 - Burkett Park > WS to LL Connector > Roller Coaster > West Potts Creek > Potts Creek (E) > Turkey Creek > 5 Points Junction 4.4 miles
Leg 2 - 5 Points Junction > Flintstone (S) > Playground > Bell's Point > Playground (S) > Potts Creek (E) > Burkett Trail > Burkett Park 3.8 miles
Temp started at 75, ended at 85. Overcast w/light winds becoming partly clouds w/strong 10-20mph WSW winds.
Easy hike along dry and familiar trails. Some portions of the trails had been groomed a few weeks ago and others hadn't - all the trails need some vegetation cut back either the grasses or some of the tree/shrub overhang. Only a few scattered spots where the vegetation was an issue.
Numerous cottontail and Jack Rabbits were out - I spotted six Jack Rabbits at Burkett Park, the most I've seen at one spot in a very long time. A few deer were spotted and the usual suspects as far as birds went. Nothing unusual or exciting. More grasshoppers are out as well.
NOTES -
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets are available at Burkett Park.
Water, shade, and info kiosk are available at 5 Points Junction.
Water, shade, and info kiosk are available at Bell's Point.
South Shore - Playground Parking Area to Burkett Park - Short Loop
San Angelo State Park
- 6/14/2026
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 6.50 Miles
Duration: 3 hours, 15 minutes
Leg 1 - Playground parking area > Chaparral > Talley Valley > Horny Toad > Nature Trail > Lanky Lackey > WS to LL Connector > Birkett Park 3.4 miles
Leg 2 - Burkett Park > Winding Snake > Chaparral > Playground Parking Area 3.1 miles
Temps started at 75, ended at 90. Sunny with a few high wispy clouds. Light SW breeze 0-5mph.
A very pleasant hike along dry and easy to traverse trails. With the recent rains and the time of year, some vegetation is on the trails but nothing that would inhibit seeing what is on the trail itself.
Birds were out to include a Vermillion Flycatcher, Great Horned owls (photo attached), Mockers, various Sparrows and others. Animals observed were deer, cottontail rabbits as well as a Jack Rabbit. Reptiles were lizards and a three foot long coachwhip snake. Insects are becoming more numerous to include cicadas. As far as wildflowers, a few Mexican hats and some yellow daisy type flowers were the only things of color - all the cactus blossoms are gone.
NOTES -
Water, shade, info kiosk, toilets and a bicycle repair station are available at the Playground Parking Area.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets are available at Burkett Park.
SPECIAL NOTE - Both locations have the new water station installed but the water is not yet connected. Water is available at both.
North Shore - Bell's Trailhead to River Bend Campground Loop
San Angelo State Park
- 5/30/2026
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 7.00 Miles
Duration: 3 hours, 30 minutes
Leg 1 - Bell's Trailhead > Trailhead to Trailhead (S) > Dinosaur Trail > Dinosaur Tracks Viewing Area > Dinosaur Trail (S) > Lower Big Hill > North Scenic Loop > Trailhead to Trailhead (S) > South Slick Rock Trail > River Bend Campground 4.1 miles
Leg 2 - River Bend ampground > Camp entrance road (W) > Badlands Trail (N) > service road (NE) > Trailhead to Trailhead (N) > Bell's Trailhead 2.9 miles
Temps started at 70, ended at 80. Mostly hazy and overcast with a few breaks in the clouds. Humid with slight SE breeze 0-5mph.
It has been a few months since I hiked the North Shore and it will be a few more months before I return. In the fairly recent past, there have been rains that flooded parts of the North Shore section of the park; consequently, some of the trails had been closed. With the announcement a few days ago that two of the main trails had been re-opened, I decided to hike them. BIG DISAPPOINTMENT!
The majority of the trails listed in Leg 1, to include Shady Trail (a popular trail) were overgrown with vegetation and in some cases, the growth was waist high or higher. It is the growing season and with the abundant rains, the native grasses and weeds have flourished. Unfortunately the park personnel have not had the time to maintain the trails so they are in a somewhat safe to trod condition. By that I mean you have to tread carefully and always be concious of rattlesnakes on or near the trails. Yes, rattlesnakes will lay in the grass alongside a trail or in the middle of the trail so I am always watching where I place my feet. Additionally, I want to avoid stepping on other reptiles such as lizards and horned toads.
The trails on Leg 2 were in better condition but there were still numerous places where the vegetation needs to be clipped. 'Nuff said on that subject.
Animals spotted were Axis deer - a buck and three does right as I was driving into the park (photo attached). Other deer as well as some birds and a few lizards were also seen. Majority of the wildflowers in bloom were Mexican hats with a few buffalo gourd plants showing their colors. The cactus blossoms were few and far between which was understandable since I was there in the morning and the blossoms that were on the cactus were still closed. There were exceptions and they were colorful!
Overall, it was good to go to the North Shore to see how the trails looked but it was unfortunate the vast majority of trails I hiked, needed some serious maintenance. At this point in time, I would NOT recommend hiking or biking the trails mentioned at the North Shore.
NOTES -
Water, shade, info kiosk and a bicycle repair station are available at Bell's Trailhead.
Water, shade, and an info kiosk are available at the Dinosaur Tracks Viewing Area.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets are available at the River Bend Campground.
Park Mid-section - Burkett Park to Cougar Overlook and Back
San Angelo State Park
- 5/25/2026
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 8.00 Miles
Duration: 3 hours, 45 minutes
Leg 1 - Burkett Park > Burkett Trail > Trailhead to Trailhead (N) > park service road (NE) > Cougar Overlook 4.5 miles
Leg 2 - Cougar Overlook > short road to Trailhead > Trailhead to Trailhead (S) > Burkett Trail > Burkett Park 3.5 miles
Temp started at 62, ended at 74. Overcast and hazy w/slight 5-8mph East breeze.
Easy hike along damp to wet to muddy trails. Because of the recent rains, the "normal" trails were too muddy so I decided to hike along more established, harder packed trails, i.e., the Trailhead to Trailhead trail which is mostly ob older park roads that are no lonegr used. Some portions are old asphalt, others, rock a few dirt but in all cases, the trail was much easier to traverse than the other named trails.
Animals spotted were deer, cottontail rabbits and a Jack Rabbit. Birds were out mostly dove and quail although I saw a Killdeer at two locations making sure I saw him as he ran along the ground squawking and drawing me away from his nest. Another bird of interest were two turkeys near the old cattle pens. Turkey are park residents but you normally don't see them so this was nice.
NOTES -
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett Park. SPECIAL NOTE - a new water and bottle filling station has been installed but the water to it, has not yet been turned on. The horse trough is also dry but water is available at the older, water spigot.
Shade, info kiosk and a bicycle reapir station are available at Cougar Overlook. SPECIAL NOTE - as of this writing (5/25/26) the air hose at the bicycle repair station is missing a piece on the air hose head which means you cannot use it to inflate tires. Notification of the issue has been made to the park.